Loose-leaf structure



Patented Mar. 12, 1940 birth starts air LOOSE-LEAF STRUCTURE Frank Stanley Schade, Holyoke, Mass., assignor to National Blank Book Company, 'Holyoke, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application December 3, 1938, Serial No. 243,806

7 Claims. (01,129-8) improved structure is shown as applied to the type of binder disclosed in Patent 1,990,136 to John Schade, dated February 5, 1935. The features of the present invention cooperate with the structure shown in the prior patent referred to in a manner to substantially improve the reliability of the operation of the mechanism without any substantial increase in cost, and prevent distortion of certain of the parts when the binder is put to rough or careless usage. In the subsequent description detailed attention will be directed to the specific improvements, the advantages of which will be readily apparent as the disclosure proceeds.

In the drawing, Fig. l is a plan view of the binder structure in 20 reading position with the covers broken away;

Fig. 2 is asection substantially on line 2- -2 of Fig. 1, withthe binder part fully opened and positioned for insertion of additional sheets or manipulation of the contents; 25 Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2 but with the binder in the reading position;

- Fig. 4 is a detail view of the latching mechanism for operation when the binder is moved from reading to fully opened position; 30 Fig. 5 is a top plan view; Fig 6 an end view of one of the guide members; and

i Fig. 7 is a sectionalview on line l'|.of Fig, 3. Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, and 7, the loose-leaf 35 structure consists generally of flat back plates 1 and 2 carrying prong sets 3 and 4 and having upstanding flanges 5 and 6 to which are secured covers I and 8. Along its inner edge, plate 2 has an overhanging flange 9 terminating in an eye 40 forming a loose bearing for a rod Ill. Rod It] extends the length of the binder and has its ends confined betweenthe top and bottom surfaces H and I2 and end wall 13 of guide members l4 (see Fig. 7), there being a guide member l4 attached 45 as by rivets I5, as indicated, at each end of the back plate I.

Asindicated in Fig. 6, the top surface H of each guide member it is bent at one end to form a hook it and as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 flange 9 50 has a portion I! at each end extended parallel to the flat back plate 2. ,Therefore, as is clearly shown in Fig. 3, when the binder is in reading position plate 2 overlies plate land is supported by portion ll bearing on the top surface ll of 56 guide member l4 and by sliding contact between the plates l and 2.

' tolerance.

On the other hand, when the binder is in its fully opened position of Fig. 2, the ends of the rod H] are carried by hooks l6 and form liinging means for the plates I and 2. i e Adjacent each end, rod Ill carries gears l l8 which are rigidly secured thereto, these gears ex-' tending through slots cut in the forward edge of flange 93, see Fig. '7. Gears l8 mesh with racks l9 preferably formed integrally with guide members M (see Fig. 5, where the rack is shown as cut 10 out of the metal of the guide members). When the binder is being opened to its reading or fully opened positions the gears [8, rod Ill, and racks 89 act as an idler mechanism compelling a, uniform sliding action of the overlapped plates I and 2 even though the force applied to covers 1 and 8 is not entirely lateral. As is explained in the earlier patent referred to, this action is due to the fact that whatever tendency there is to slide caused by force applied to the covers atone end of the binder is distributed equally by the idler mechanism.

i To allow positive control of the binder mecha-- nism so that it will not be inadvertently opened beyond its reading position the latch mechanism of Fig. 4 is provided, the mechanism allowing the binder parts to be released so that they can pass to the fully opened position and then being automatically reset when the binder is again returned to the reading position. 3o

. It will be seen from Fig. 4, taken in conjunction with Fig. 1, that the right hand edge 20 of one portion l l of the flange 9 abuts against a stop 2| of latch 22 in the reading position of the binder.

If the latch is depressed by pressure on the finger piece 24 the back plates can be separated laterally. When the binder is closed, surface 25 oi the flange 9 passes under finger piece 24 to reset it to lock the binder in reading position when it is again opened. Also, surface 26 serves to insure that the latch is in position by passing under the finger piece 2t as the binder is opened to reading position. Thisparticular latch mechanism being old and described in detail in the patent referred to, will not be further considered here.

As can be seen in the drawingand as was pointed out in the earlier patent, this type of binder is adapted to be made in quantities at low cost and out of fairly light materials, such as for instance metal stampings. Also, for ease of operation, the parts are fitted with considerable With the earlier structure certain difficulties occurred when mass production of this binder was employed.

In particular, it was found that the racks l9 became deformed with rough usage or during assembly and consequently gears It would not mesh properly with the racks 19. Thus, the equalizing action was interfered with.

Also, when the binder was being closed from the open position of Fig. 2, the user often would use too much force with the result that portion I1 of the flange 9 would be deformed by contact with upper surfaces ll of guide members M. The result was that there would be no bearing surface provided by portion I1 and the latching mechanism of Fig. 4 would fail to function properly.

To prevent these and other difficulties, stop members 36, see Figs. 1 to 3, and 7, are provided. As indicated, such. members 3B find a loose bearing on the rod Iii adjacent gears l8 and extend through slots 3| in the flange 9. The lower edge of the member 30 has a tail 32, see Fig. '7, which extends laterally and underlies rack E9 in supporting relation thereto, the tail being of correct dimensions to firmly hold the rack and gear in contact when the back plates are sliding laterally.

The tail 32 acts as an anvil against which the rack constantly bears during the sliding of plates 1 and 2, and this not only keeps the gears and racks in mesh but tends to straighten out any irregularities which may occur in the rack due to deforming of the metal. In this manner action of the equalizing mechanism is positively insured.

There is also provided on member 30 a nose 35 which contacts the face of flange 9, see Fig. 3, when the binder is in all but fully opened position. As is plain by contrast of Figs. 2 and 3, when the binder is closed from the fully opened position, the nose 35 contacts the flange 9 in time tolimit the hinging action about rod l0 and thereby prevent deforming of the portion I! as previously described.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that by my improved structure I have not only retained all the desirable features of the earlier conception but I have added an additional safeguard to its action which not only improves its reliability, but enables me to produce a definitely 2. In a loose-leaf structure, two back plates connected together for relative sliding movement, a pivotal connection for the edges of said plates operable for pivotal movement when the plates are separated, gear racks on one plate and idler gears mounted on a single idler shaft on the other plate to engage said racks, and means carried on said idler shaft apart from said pivotal connection to independently maintain contact between the racks and gears during movements of the plates.

3. In a loose-leaf structure two back plates connected together for relative sliding movement in parallel relation, a pivotal connection for the edges of said plates operable for pivotal move- 1.:-

ment when the plates are separated, gear racks on one plate and idler gears mounted on a single idler shaft on the other plate to engage said racks, and means carried on the idler shaft to limit the pivotal movement in one direction to the parallel position of the back plates.

4. In a loose-leaf structure, two back plates connected together for relative sliding movement in parallel relation, a pivotal connection for the edges of said plates operable for pivotal movement when the plates are separated, gear racks on one plate and idler gears mounted on a single idler shaft on the other plate to engage said racks, and means carried on the idler shaft to limit the pivotal movement in one direction to the parallel position of the back plates and to maintain contact between the racks and gears during sliding and pivotal movements of the plates.

5. In a loose-leaf structure, two back plates connected together for relative sliding movement in parallel relation, a pivotal connection for the edges of said plates operable for pivotal movement when the plates are separated, gear racks on one plate and idler gears to engage said racks mounted on a single idler shaft carried by an eye formed in the edge of an overhanging flange in the other plate, and limiting means carried on the idler shaft, said limiting means comprising two elements, each having a nose to contact the overhanging flange when the plates are in parallel relation at one end of their pivotal movement, and a toe underlying an adjacent rack and maintaining it in contact with the adjacent gear during all movements of the plates.

6. In a structure of the kind described, the combination of two relatively slidable back plates, one of the latter having a gooseneck flange and a shaft mounted for protection at the outer edge thereof, two gears fixed to said shaft, the other plate having side flanges to guide the ends of said shaft and hold the same for rotation of the back plates adjacent their edges when separated, and racks on one plate engaged by said gears on the other plate, and means to hold the gears and racks in operable condition against separation comprising at least one disk mounted on said shaft adjacent one of said gears, said disk having a toe in slidable relation and underlying the rack engaged by said gear.

7. The structure of claim 6 in combination with a disk having a stop to limit the rotation of the back plates in one direction in addition to a toe to underlie the rack on one back plate as the gear on the other back plate moves on said rack.

FRANK STANLEY SCHADE.

Edi 

